Young Volunteer Award introduced

Are you involved with youngsters between the age of five and 15 years, who give up their time for your school or community organisation?

Are you a parent of youngster in this age category, who regularly helps out at local club or group for no pay? Would you like them to receive recognition for the time they give up? Well now you can!

The Young Aberdeenshire Volunteer Award has been introduced within Aberdeenshire schools, and supports the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence, (CfE) through the development of two key capacities - responsible citizens and effective contributors.

Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action would also like community groups and local charities that offer volunteering opportunities to young people to support this award. A volunteer is someone who freely offers to do something in their own time, and which is for the benefit of the community, the environment or other people outside their immediate family.

Volunteering activities in school may include, a local beach clean up, a wildlife project, entertaining the public or community, a poster campaign, break/lunchtime litter picks in school, or a gardening project to suggest just a few. The award recognises small blocks of volunteering (10, 20, 30 and 45+ hours) and is administered by Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, supported by Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership.

An Information Sheet which provides an overview of the award is available on request from your local Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action office, Fraserburgh office.

This award is available for young people from Primary School up to the age of 15 years and has been developed whereby pupils record the hours they volunteer and get their timesheet signed off by a teacher/supervisor. For further information contact Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, North East Scotland College, Fraserburgh Campus, Henderson Road, email; north@avashire.org.uk or call 01346 586106 or 077 246 176 48.